Structural unit



May 8, 1928.

S. MACOMBER STRUCTURAL UNIT ild Feb. 16. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. STANLEY MCO/79 5er ATTORNIZYQl 5 May 8, 1928.

, s. MACOMBER STRUCTURAL UNIT 2 Sheets Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 16, 1923 Vil INVENTOR. 40o/726er /5774 A/Ly /17 BY @y Y o@ ATTORNEY?gl STATES' PATENT OFFICE. t

` STANLEY `MACt'lIIIBIElIt, OF-MASSILION', OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE MAGOMBER STEEL COMPANY, F CANTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

STRUCTURAL UNIT.

Application ledl February 1.6, 1923. Serial No. 619,401.

'llhe present invention relates more particularly to the construction of a truss section or other structural unit for buildings and the like. The improved unit isga unitary member formed from a single piece of metal. While the particular object of the invention is the provision of a light weight section adapted to act as a-beam in carry-A ing light loads, as in the case of" joistsin floor construction, the utility of the invention is notklimited to any such particular field or for that matter to any such particular type of structural element. My im-` proved unit, in other words, maybe also advantageously employed in the construction of columns, as a roof purlin andas a 'einforcement for concrete in lioorsand the To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention then con- K sists of the means hereinafterl fully describedand particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings and the lfollowing description setting forth in detail one product exemplifying my invention such product constituting, however, but one of various applications of the principleof my invention.

In said annexed drawings ^Fig. 1 Iis a plan View of the initial or starting plate from which my improved structural unit is fashioned by a succession of steps constituting a novel method of manufacture not claimed in this applica* tion, such plate being shown vas slit `or punched preliminarily to the performance of succeeding operations; Fig. 2 is a side elevation illustratingthe form-assumed by such plate as the result of such subsequent operations where it is desired to fashion the plate into a truss member; Fig. 3 is avertical transverse section of such-truss member, the plane of the section being indicated'\port1on by the line 3--3, Fig. 2; Fig. 4. is a horizontal section of the same, taken' on 'the plane indicated' by the line 4 4, Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a brokenperspective view of such member; Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 illustrate various sections of the initial or. starting plate which may be used in fashioning such element or structuralunit; Fig. 12 is aV dia-` grammatic representation vin side/elevation of such truss element showing its use asa beam or girder hung below supports; Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 but showing J other such element inverted above supports; Fig. 14 similarly shows the same employed as a roof purlin; Fig. 15 illustrates the use thereof as a beam or girder between columns, one of the latter consisting of such element in modified form; Figs. 16 and 17 are sections likewise more or less diagrammatic in character illustrating theemployment of such element in steel truss joist door construction; and Fig. 18 shows such element used as a support and reinforcement for concrete floor construction.

The initial or starting plate A, shown ,in plan in Fig. 1, is of elongated rectangular form and of flat cross section the same as shown in Fig. 6. The overall dimensions of the plate as well as its thickness will, of course, vary with the length which it is desired the nished structural unit shall have and the calculated strains and stresses which such unit will be required to sustain. As already indicated, the initial step in the 'fabrication vof such unit from the platel consists in the shearing, slitting or punching of the samealong oppositely disposed, irregular L-shaped lines a adjacent the respective ends thereof and along two parallel series of similar Z-shaped lines ai intermediately of such ends. It will be noted that the longitudinally extending portions of the slits a: and adjacent slits ai overlap and that similarly such longitudinally eX-' tending portions of theslits w' overlap each also that the narrow portions 1 of the metal sheet lying between such longitudinally extending slit portions are designed to be bent transversely of the median line of the slit as a whole at points a2.

As a result of the form and arrangement of slits a and ai', when such portions 1 of the sheet are bent downwardly at the pointsaz, the effect will be to displace from the central 2 of the sheetthe continuous, i. e., uncut, lateral portions 3 and 4, such continous lateral portions heilig at the. same time shifted longitudinally 1n opposite, d1- rections relatively to the main portion 2. The lateral portions are then brought/together, it being noted thaty the transverse portions of the zigzag or Z-shaped slits a', Whenthe portions of the sheet are thus d1s' placed, present shoulders 5 that are adapted to interlock, as shown in Fig. 4, substantially in the transverse plane of said central member 2. ItV will also be noted that the adjarelatively wide terminal cent portions 1 of the strip extend in opposite diagonal directions, when viewed inside lelevation, from the central strip portion 2 sultant parts thereupon bent and tted together, that a truss-like structure is formed, the mid-portion or rib 2 of thesheet constituting one chord, the juxtaposed and interlocked lateral portions 3 and 4 constituting the other chord and the diagonal portions l constituting the web members of the truss. The ends of such resultant truss member may be variously formed or, are ranged. Thus, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5 (see also Figs. 12 and 13), the relatively wide terminal portions 6 constituting the ends of the mid-rib portion 2 and the relatively wide terminal portions 7 constituting one end of the lateral chord-member 3 and one end o f the lateral chord-member 4, which ortions 6 and 7 remain attached to the mit `rib portion 2yand the lateral portions 3 and 4, are brought into overlapping relation in approximately the plane of such mid-ribportion and there riveted, welded or otherwise permanently secured together in any desired manner. As a resultLnot only is atrue truss structure presented, but the terminal portions 6 and 7 thus secured together provide a convenient projection at each end of the truss for use as a bearing plate for such truss, whether the latter is hung below supports\ 10, as illustrated in Fig. 12, or is inverted yabove such supportsyas shown in Fig. 13. It is also possible by bending these terminal portions 6 and 7, so that they will lie at an obtuse angle`to the plane of mid-portion 2, or, in other words, to the median line of the truss,

to adapt the latter for use in an inclined position between supports 11 and 12, as shown in Fig. 14, where use of the truss member as a roof purlin is illustrated. For

that matter such terminal portions 6 and 7 maybe bent at a right angle to the median line of the truss and the latter thus adapted to be secured against the vertical faces of columns 13 and 14, as shown in Fig. 15. In this last mentioned ligure, the column 14 at the right illustrates still yanother adaptation of my truss, viz, as a column or vertical su port, the onlywchangeY involved being vt e overlapping ofsuch terminal portions 6 and Leeaooa 7 so as to form a box-like end for the structure instead of a projection, as in the several forms hereinbefore described. i

The specific form of my improved structural element shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 12 will find a large field of use as a'joist in ioor construction, examples of such use being illustrated in'Figs. 16 and 17, where a series of such elements 15 are shown in diagrammatic cross-section. In Fig. 16 a concrete floor 16With concrete finish 17 is shown as being supported by such joist, While a plaster ceiling 18 is hung there-from in the usual manner. The only difference in the construction shown in Fig. 17 is that the concrete portion 16 of the floor has incorporated therein nailing strips 19 vto which a Wood floor finish 2O is attached.

The use of the element as a column illusstrated in Fig. 15 renders unnecessary the separate illustration of the use Aof such element as a partition stud, except to note that where employedfin this last mentioned manner, successive elements will be disposed so as to face in opposite directions, thus additionally bracing and strengthening the wall.

Such element 15, as illustrated in Fig. 18, is very Well adapted for use in reinforcing concrete, the particular use'illustrated in the figure in question being in a reinforced concrete floor or roof structure 2O of generally familiar form where the elements are wholly embedded in the concrete. The use of such elements in this connection presents the advantage that Wood forms may be eliminated since permanent or removablesteel forms 21, as shown at the right of said Fig. 18, may be supported on hangers attached to the elements 15; The latter, in other Words, will support the dead load of theiioor construction until theconcrete has set and the same hangers 22 may be conveniently utilized to suspend the ceiling 23, if desired.

It is not considered necessary to show or describe any special machine or instrumentality, in the way of dies or the like, such as may be used in the commercial fabrication' of my improved structural/unit inasmuch as itv is -a matter of indifference how the slits be formed inthe initial sheet A and thel several portions of the latter thereupon brought into the relationship illustrated in Figs. 2 and 5. Obviously such unit can be fabricated by hand with ordinary tools where made from a sheet oflight section. Moreover, while all the operations involved may be performed in the cold, I do not mean to exclude the 'possible use of hotI It has already been indicated that the thickness and the dimensionsof the sheet employed in the fabrication of the unit will be selected with a View to providing the necessary strength for the particular use to which the .unit is to be put. Instead of being of plain, i.- e., fiat cross-section, as shown in Fig. 6, such plate may be of irregular cross-section in order to provide additional thickness of material in certain of the parts of the vunit when linished. Thus, as shown in Fig. 7, the central ortion of the sheet A', from which the mid-rib or Chord element 2 is cut, may be thicker than the respective lateral .portions lA similar modification is illustrated in Fig. 8, except that such thickened central portion is narrower and somewhat higher; while in the plate or strip A3, shown in F ig. 9, such central portion is transversely curved or humped. In Fig. 10, the modified stripv or plate A4 there shown is rolled with the central portion as well as the lateral portions-thickened, the addilill eral tional material being of curved cross-section, so that the mid-rib anr lateral portions of the fabricated unit will takev on the form or" rods. l Finally, in Fig. l1, I show a form of strip or plate similar to that shown in Fig. 7, except that the central portion is thickened on both sides.

It has already been explained that the terminal portions 6 and 7 when brought into overlapping relation may be secured together in any desired manner. Similarly, the lat- @ther forms may be employed embodyingl the features oi my invention instead of the one here explained, change being made in the form or construction, provided the elements stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated elements be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinvention:-

l. In a truss-like structural unit, the lcombination of three parallel spaced chordmembers, the two outer members `being spaced from the central member in a direction transverse of the plane thereof and l laterally displaced toward each other to lie ortions 3 and 4 of the unit when bination of three parallel spaced chord-members, the two outer members being spaced from the central member in a direction transverse of the plane thereof and lying in laterally juxtaposed and interlocked relation.

, 3. In a truss-like structural unit, the combination' of j three parallel spaced chordmembers, the two outer members being spaced from the central member ina direction transverse of the plane thereof and lying in laterally juxtaposed and interlocked relation, and a series of web-members integrally formed and connected at opposite ends with said chord-members, respectively.`

4. In a truss-like structural unit, the combination of three parallel spaced chord-members, the two outermembers being spaced `from the central member in a direction transverse of the plane thereof and lying in laterally juxtaposed and interlocked relation, and a series of Web-members integrally formed and connected at opposite ends with said chord-members, respectively, said webmembers being inclined to the plane of said chord-members.

5. In a truss-like structural unit, the cornbination' of three parallel spaced chord members, *the two outer members being spaced' from the central member in a direction transverse of the plane thereof and'lying in laterally juxtaposed and interlocked relation, and a series of web-members, integrally formed and connected at opposite ends with said chord-members, respectively, said web-members being inclined in two dilerent grections to the plane-of said ,chord-mem- 6. In a truss-like structural unit, the" combination of three parallel spaced chordmembers, he two outer members being spaced from the central member in a direction transverse of the plane thereof and ly- 1n in laterally juxtaposed and interlocked reation, the ends of said chord-members being lixedly 'secured together..l

In a truss-like structural unit, the combination of three parallel spaced chordmembers, the twov outer members being 4 spaced from the central member in a direction transverse o the plane thereof and lying in laterally juxtaposed and interlocked relation, and a series of web-members, intef grally formed and connected at opposite ends with said chord-members, respectivel the ends of said chord-members being xedly secured together.

8. In a truss-like structural unit, the combination of three parallel spaced chordmembers, the two outer members being spaced from the central member in a direction transverse of the plane thereof and lyin in laterally juxtaposed and interlocked rettion, and a series of web-members, integrally formed and connected at opposite ends bers, and the ends of said chord-members being ixedly secured together.

10. In a truss-like structural unit formed from a single piece of metal, the combination of three parallel chord-members, of which a central member is lspaced from two outer` members in a 4direction transverse of the plane thereof, and a series of web-members connectedcat opposite ends to the central member and to said outer members, respectively, the ends of the metal piece each being formed into a central member end portion and one outer memberend portion, the adjacent end portions of the central member and outer members being brought intooverlapping relation to form unit-end bearing portions.

11. ln a truss-like structural unit formed if i means@ from a single piece of metal, the combination of three parallel chord-members, of which a central member is spaced from two outer members in a direction transverse of the plane thereof, and a series of web-members connected at opposite ends `ytoJ the central member and to said outer members, respectively, a comparatively wide end portion being formed on each end of said central member and a comparatively wide end portion on one end of one outer member and a comparativelywide end portion on the opposite end of the other outer member, the adjacent end portions of said central and outer mem bers being brought into overlapping relation to form unit-end bearing portions.` I

12. ln a truss-like structural unit formed from a single piece of metal, the combination of three parallel chord-members, of which a central member is spaced from two outer membersN in a direction transverse of the plane thereof, and a series of web-members connected at opposite ends to said chordmembers, respectively, the ends of the metal piece each being formed intov a central member end portion and one outer member end portion, said two outer members being laterally displaced toward eachother to lie in a laterally juxtaposed relation, and the adjacent end portions of said central and outer members being brought into overlapping relation to' form unit-end bearing portions. Signed by me this th day of Feb., 1923.

STANLEY MACOMBER. 

